How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by having enough sleep and working out.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If window doctors near me 've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medication options to treat the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercising.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other reasons for the extra beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. They can increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This could lead to the need for a transplant in a few people.